Grimsby returns Joseph's grim smile and says "Just hand me the spyglass, and I promise to yell as loudly as I can once I can confirm these are High Martians."

Petras has seen how birds of prey dive down on potential prey that are flying below them, so he understands the advantage of height. As the others go about their business, he begins taking the ship up higher. If nothing else, these potential threats will have to come down to his level to attack.

He can't help wondering, though, how effective shooting downward or upward will be, so he decides to ask Grimsby.

"Mr. Baskerville, sir," he begins, "can these guns fire downward?  And how effective are they at firing upward?"

"It seems to me that any two ships would need to be on an even keel, as it were. Correct?"

There doesn't seem to be any binoculars on the ship, but there is the spyglass... two of them, in fact, as Solar has one.

Grimsby uses the ship's spyglass to look up at the specks in the sky. He's just barely able to tell that they are small kite ships flying at high altitude, no doubt for observation purposes. Your ship is only at medium height.

While they first appeared to be on a different course, they change course even as Grimsby watches. It's hard to tell if they are changing altitude, but they definitely seem to be heading for you now.

Grimsby says, "Well, at least do not seem to be High Martians --they are small kite ships -- sail-powered vessels used by the Canal Martians. They have changed course to meet us, so they might be Oenetrian scouts looking for prey. Of course, they might also be friendly Martians just wanting to pass the time of day, but I doubt it. They usually have a crew of ten apiece, so we could probably fight off one, but two might be more of a problem."

Catherine hurries to fetch a weapon, then returns. She watches the oncoming vessels. She isn't great at hiding her emotions, so the others get to see Catherine sigh in relief on hearing that they are not High Martians, gasp in fear when Grimsby mentions that they might be Oenetrian scouts, becoming visibly relieved at the idea they might be friendly then nervous again as he mentions that is unlikely. "I don't suppose there is anywhere we could head to for assistance..."

"It's about speed," Felicity offers as a bit of comfort to Catherine.

"If we're faster than it, never going to be a problem. Plus, I've got my rifle. I make no claims to being a marksman, but I ain't bad. How many do you think we'd have to hit, Grimsby, before they decide the prize isn't worth the loss?"

"For that matter, would they consider this ship such a prize? Would they even know how to use it?"

In reply to Felicity Van Horn (msg # 272):

Grimsby says, "In general, Martians honor courage, so I suspect you might have to shoot a fair number to discourage them --perhaps four on each ship, but that is only a guess.

The Oenetrians have seen a number of British airships in action, so they might try to use ours, but assuming they were able to capture our ship, I think they would be more likely to loot it, take off surviving members of our party to hold for ransom or exchange, and burn it. However, we must hope to give then a stiff fight first."


After watching the distant fliers a little longer, he sys "If someone would like to take over this spyglass, I think I should go to my cabin and get my larger pistol. It does not have the range of Miss Van Horn's rifle, but it could be useful if Martians try to board us or ram us at close range."

Catherine smiles at Felicity, rallying. "I hope we're fast." She readies her weapon-Catherine can't tell the difference between different makes of weapons so just grabbed whatever was available- and tries to take cover. "I don't fancy being taken for ransom."

The railings on the ship would provide only minimal cover, and the gunwales would be somewhat better though only from one side of the ship. Probably the best cover would be up on the quarter deck between the stairs upward to the sterncastle and ship sides.

On the other hand, Dr. Solar's wagon is taking up a good part of the deck. Under it or in it would be good.

"Damn it! Pardon my French, Catherine!" Solar says. "I never meant for my freeze ray to be a weapon, which is why it doesn't have much range. What would have been the point? Freeze your patient while you figure out to cure or heal him was my idea."

"Now that it comes down to it, if it's between us and them, well, I'd rather it be them."

"What sort of effect do you think my freeze ray would have on these Martians, Grimsby?" he asks the Brit.

"I'd rather not kill them if I don't have to."

"Aubrey, might you be able to assist me in tweaking my freeze ray so it has a greater range?"

"I'd be honored to assist you, Dr. Solar," Aubrey responds, "though I doubt my meager skills will be of much use."

"The science behind it still befuddles my mind! And I consider myself a learned man! I suppose I think more along the lines of practical inventions... how to harness steam in a different way, ways to use electricity, even mechanical devices to do tedious work."

In reply to Dr. Mathias Solar (msg # 276):

Grimsby responds cautiously, "The physiology of Martians is close enough to ours that I suppose a ray that can freeze us can freeze them. As they are less accustomed to modern scientific marvels, I hope it might frighten them more, especially if they believed their frozen comrades were dead rather than simply frozen."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:59, Tue 24 May 2022.

"There is that problem," Felicity offered. "If you freeze one of them, and they think he's dead, will they throw him overboard? Or will they have enough sense to wait until he thaws out?"

"From what I've heard of the Martians, they have some knowledge of the ancient wonders of their civilization, so they might not be so rash."

Grimsby comments "I've never heard that the ancient Martians had anything like a freezing ray, but there are hidden legendary wonders of their lost ancestors that might be better known to the Martians than they are to us."

While Aubrey and Mathias start tinkering with his freeze ray, the others keep watch on the one ship they spotted as it drops lower and lower. Of course, everyone's keeping watch for other ships as well.

It's soon close enough to see that it is manned by Martians. The crew and ship appear to be preparing to attack.

Grimsby watches the approaching airship carefully, trying to decide if it is from the Oenetrian Navy, a rival city or simply some air pirate.

In reply to GM SteamRoller (msg # 281):

OOC: far as I know, it still hasn't been firmly established whether Boy Genius Petras included some means for the Gunner to sight the cannons from below deck ... or if the guns actually are "below deck" (I mean, heck, the Ship's Helm raises up and down, from on deck to below deck!) ... or if the Gunner has to communicate with a Spotter, up on deck (or just how they would communicate that info).  I'm writing this as location generic as I can--just in case it ends up that the guns are not below deck, but are up on the weather deck
OOC: reminder that Joseph spent much of the trip in space looking over these guns and their ammunition, and if there is anything "special" or "out of the ordinary" about either ("Red Ammo Rocks!!"), he would have had Petras explain it to him.  In this case, if Joseph has a choice, he'll load Explosive, Anti-Ship shells ... otherwise, he'll just load whatever Petras has (and hope it's not a paint-filled practice round).


     Approaching the cannons, Joseph removes his Stetson, then his greatcoat, and tosses both on the deck, into a corner, where they'll be safely out of the way.  After rolling up his shirtsleeves, Joseph steps over to the gun that looks most likely to bear upon the approaching ship and cracks open the breach then reaches for a shell in a nearby ready ammunition rack.

     Joseph slides the narrow, pointed shell into the breach, then levers the breach block into place and locks it down.  Grabbing the firing lanyard--but not yet pulling the safety pin from the firing mechanism--Joseph straightens up and shouts out words that he hasn't spoken in some years...

     "Gun Number One loaded and prepared for firing! Ready to target enemy, on your order!"

     A moment later, Joseph adds...

     "Whereaway, Mister Baskerville?  Is she flying colors that we shoot at -- or run from?"

OOC: Grimsby will another Joseph's question as soon as he gets a clear sighting of the approaching airship. (i.e. when the GM tells him something).

Grimsby was having a difficult time determining what flag the other ship was flying but finally realized what the problem was--it wasn't flying any flag!

He's not even sure what that means, since even the lowliest pirate wants to be known for his deeds.

Grimsby shakes his head in puzzlement and declares "The ship seems to fly no flag. That is singular. Even the most barbaric Martians, to say nothing of those skilled enough to build such a ship, are usually proud to display their colors. My first thought is that perhaps the ship was overrun by savages somewhere who had no understanding of the higher customs but were able to get the ship airborne by luck."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:04, Mon 11 July 2022.

In reply to Grimsby H. Baskerville (msg # 286):

     "I suppose ... Maybe..." Joseph responds uncertainly, "That's always been my experience in The Gulf, and down off the west coast of South America, but..."

     Joseph pauses for a moment, trying to remember something he'd read in a newspaper, years ago...

     "Grimsby ... I recall reading something in the papers ... back in the Seventies ... something about a sea monsters attacking only ships which flew the British Flag ... and something about a strange, high-speed ship that flew no flag attacking an American Warship ... but then running off, leaving the American to limp home ... you must recall!  It was part of all that hubbub about Sea Monster sightings, happening all around the world..."

     "Could this ship-with-no-flag, maybe, be a part of all that, somehow?  Maybe we should consider firing first -- especially if we are no longer flying Petra's Lithuanian flag...?"

Grimsby says, "My understanding is that the "sea-monster ship" turned out to be the instrument of an Indian Prince, Dakkar of Bundelkhund, who was nephew to the notorious rebel Tippu Tib of Sepoy Mutiny infamy. Dakkar, calling himself Nemo, sought revenge on the British for our suppression of the mutiny, but he is dead and gone now. Some of your Union prisoners found him dying on a Pacific Island after they escaped from Richmond.
However, I understand that there is an Irish Fenian rebel who has attempted similar piracy in Martian skies, and a French anarchist fanatic who does not, as far as I know, have any sky-piloting skills, but would be even more likely not to fly the flag of any nation -- I would expect the Irish rebel to fly his notion of a green Irish flag."

Catherine shivers as the discussion shifts to various fearsome naval and ariel foes. "Could it be used by the High Martians? They don't have any flag."

In reply to Catherine Harston (msg # 289):

Grimsby responds seriously, "I believe High Martians do not themselves have the knowledge to sail these vessels, but possibly they might overrun a ship and compel its crew to sail it for them."

In reply to Grimsby H. Baskerville (msg # 290):

     "So, then," Joseph calls from where he's standing by the cannon, "We just wait until they either start shouting orders or start shooting at us, eh?"

     Joseph lowers his voice a bit, and adds, "Just like with the Yanks, back in The Gulf..."